Underwater electric lantern



1960 H. J. ANDERSON 2,948,806

UNDERWATER ELECTRIC LANTERN Filed Sept. 30, 1957 JNVENTOR. ,2, flaw/a J4/702/350/7 A rraki/g.

2,948,806 Patented Aug. 9, 1960 2,948,806 UNDERWATER ELECTRIC LANTERNHarold J. Anderson, 28 E. Dartmouth Road, Kansas City, Mo.

Filed Sept. 30, 1957, Ser. No. 686,943

6 Claims. (Cl. 240-1066) This invention relates to lantern structure andmore particularly, to an electric lantern adapted for underwater use.

The most important object of this invention is to provide an electriclantern which is adapted to be suspended from the wrist of a user andwhich includes novel switch structure disposed in a position so that theuser may operate the switch thereof with his corresponding gand so thathis other hand and wrist are left completely Another important objectrelates to the provision of a lantern as described which is constructedso as to be completely water-tight, thereby rendering the lantern usefulfor underwater operations.

A further important object of the invention is to provide an'underwaterlantern having a looped wrist strap connected thereto and a loopedelectrical conductor suitably coupled with the components of the lanternand having a switch interposed therein in a position whereby when theuser employs the strap to suspend the lantern from one of his wrists, hemay actuate the switch with his corresponding hand, thereby freeing hisother hand and wrist.

Other important objects of the present invention include the provisionof a lantern as described which includes a case and a lamp swingablymounted thereon and wherein the conductor is coupled to the lamp and thecase to the end that the lamp may be swung free in a predetermined arerelative to the case by virtue of the play in the conductor; theprovision of such a lantern wherein the wrist strap on the case isdisposed in a position so that a plane therethrough is substantiallyparallel witha plane through the lens of the lamp so that the beam oflight emanating from the lamp is in substantial alignment with the usersarm whereby the latter may aim the light by merely moving his arm topoint in the required direction; the provision of a flexible strap onthe uppermost part of the case which is constructed so that the lengththereof may be adjusted at will and thereby permit the user to expandthe loop a suflicient amount that he may move the strap upwardly on hisarm until the lantern is in an out-of-the-way position during swimmingand other operations; the provision of a switch Controlon the lanternwhich is manually movable to and from o and on positions so that if thelantern is accidentally displaced from the users wrist when the lanternis on, he may readily recover the same by virtue of the beam of lightemanating from the lamp; the provision ofa water-proof lantern which isinexpensive, rugged and trouble-free in operation and which is alsoadapted for use. in many situations not requiring underwater operation;and, other less important objects and details of construction which willbecome apparent as the following-specification progresses.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the instant invention illustrating theway in which the same is suspended from onelof theusers wrists and also,the manner in which the switch control is readily accessible to theusers fingers of his corresponding hand; and

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of the wiring forming a part of thepresent invention.

An electric illuminating device in the nature of an underwater lanternis broadly designated in the drawings by the numeral 10 and includes ametallic, cupshaped, hollow, cylindrical case 12 provided with anopening at the uppermost end thereof normally closed by a top wall 14which in turn has a continuous, downwardly projecting flange (not shown)joined to the outer peripheral edge thereof and adapted to engage theouter surface of the upper portion of case 12.

A circular band 16 is suitably secured to the flange of top 14 insurrounding relationship thereto and is provided with a series ofoutwardly struck, integral, equally spaced loops 18 adapted to receivecorresponding uppermost ends of a plurality of U-bolts 20. The uppermostends of bolts 20 are preferably threaded in a manner to' receiverespective screw caps 22 above each of the corresponding loops 18 sothat, upon threading of caps 22 onto bolts 20, top wall 14 is drawn downtightly against the uppermost end of case 12. It is to be pointed outthat rubber gasket means or the like (not shown) is provided between theupper edge of case 12 and top wall 14 to render the interior of case 12watertight.

Case 12 receives a source of electrical energy in the nature of battery24 indicated schematically in Fig. 2 of the drawing, and a lamp, broadlydesignated 26, is swingably secured to cover plate 14. Lamp 26 includesan outer housing 28 and a pair of spaced, upstanding lugs 30 secured tothe rear face of housing 28 in offset relationship to the central axisthereof.

An elongated mounting bracket 32 is attached to the uppermost face oftop wall 14 by fastening means 34 and includes a bearing 36 at theoutermost end thereof pivotally receiving elongated bolt and nut means38 passing through bearing 36 and suitable, aligned perforations in lugs30.

A pair of diametrically opposed, spaced, substantially U-shaped hangerelements 40 are secured to the upper face of top wall 14 in parallelrelationship to the longitudinal length of bracket 32 and receive thefree ends of an elongated, flexible bail or loop member broadlydesignated 42.

Bail member 42 comprises an elongated, flexible strap.

Means for holding each of the S-shaped portions '48 in a designatedposition relative to the rem'ainderof strap 44 preferably takes the formof a substantially S-s'haped clip 56 having a length 52 in overlappingrelationship to" the stretch 54 of S-shaped portions 48, a length 56 lo'cated between stretch 54'and a stretch 58 'of portions 48 j against themain stretch 62 and a length 60 positioned of strap 44.

g A pair of electrical conductor poles 64 and 66 are provided in'coverplate 14 beween elements 40uand disposed in parallel relationship to thelatter and are elc-x trically connected with battery 24. An elongated,looped,

flexible electrical conductor or cable-68 is coupled-with lamp 26 andcase 12 and includes a pair of leads 71 and: 73 which are operablyconnected with poles' 6.4 and (.66.

and bulbs 69 within housing 28. '7,

As clearly shown in Fig. l, conductor 68 passes through housing 28between lugs 30 and is of sufficient length to form a loop extendingupwardly above the uppermost face of cover plate 14 in perpendicularrelationship to strap 44. interposed in conductor 68 intermediate theends thereof, is a control switch 70 having a rotatable switch controlor member 72 movable to and from oil and on positions.

A rubber washer or the like 74 is provided at the point where conductor68 enters housing 28 to provide water integrity and suitable means isprovided at the points where leads 71 and 73 are connected withrespective poles 64 and 66 to prevent entrance of water into case 12.

The wiring diagram of lantern is illustrated in Fig. 2 and includes thebattery 24, leads 71 and 73, bulb 69 and switch 72, it being noted thatcable 73 serves as a ground between bulb 69 and battery 24.

In operation, lantern 10 is adapted to be carried in a position as shownin Fig. 1 and is constructed so that the same may be suspended from thewrist 76 of the users hand 78 in a position so that switch control 70may be readily grasped by the users fingers 80. It can now be seen thatbecause of the fact that lantern 10 may be suspended from the userswrist 76 with switch control 70 located in a readily accessible positionfor operation by his fingers 80, the users other hand remains free andunincumbered in any manner whatsoever.

Inasmuch as strap 44 is located so that a plane therethrough issubstantially parallel with the lens of lamp 26, the beams of lightemanating from bulb 69 are in substantial alignment with the usersforearm. Thus, the direction of the beams emanating from bulb 69 may bedirected in a specific direction by merely moving the arm in thatdirection. Furthermore, because of the looped nature of conductor 68,switch control 72 may be readily grasped in fingers 80 without the usersother hand being necessary to turn bulb 69 off and on.

Another important feature relates to the fact that because of the loopednature of conductor 68, lamp 26 may be swung freely about the axis ofbolt and nut means 38 without in any manner interfering with theoperation of conductor 68 and control switch 72.

Inasmuch as the length of strap 44 may be varied by adjusting stretches54 and 58, the distance at which lantern 10 is suspended from the userswrist 76, may be varied at will. In this manner, the length of strap 44may be extended if desired, so that the strap may be pushed upwardlyupon the users arm to a point where it will not in any manner interferewith swimming operations or the like. By the same token, the efiectivelength of strap 44 may be shortened if it is desired to more firmlyattach lantern 10 to the wrist 76 to preclude loss or displacement ofthe same from the users hand 78.

Bolts provide an eflective seal between top wall 14- and case 12 andbecause of the rugged construction thereof, lantern 10 will withstandconsiderable shock and wall 14 is not subject to easy dislodgment duringunderwater operations.

Although other types of control switches could be utilized, oneemploying a rotatable switch member such as 72, is preferable because ofthe ease with which the same may be turned oil and on while lantern 10is suspended from the users wrist 76. If lantern 10 is accidentallydislodged from the users wrist it can be appreciated that if bulb 69 islighted, the beam emanating therefrom will lead the user to the locationthereof even in murky water, this being true because switch control 70remains in the on position even when not held in theusers fingers 80.

Thus, it can now be appreciated that lantern 10 is advantageous overpreviously disclosed lanterns of this type because the same may becarried and operated by the same hand.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a case having a top wall and containing a battery; alamp alongside said case and mounted on the top wall; a pair of spaced,diametrically opposed hanger elements secured to the top wall; anelongated, flexible strap having opposed ends, each swingably attachedto a corresponding hanger element, the strap extending upwardly from thetop wall, forming a first loop adapted for loose suspension from onewrist of a user, and disposed to direct light beams emanating from thelamp outwardly beyond said wrist in alignment therewith; a flexible,conductive cable operably coupling the battery with the lamp and havingone end thereof terminating at the top wall between said elements, saidcable extending upwardly from the top wall, forming a second loopbetween the lamp and the strap substantially in alignment with saidwrist and said light beams; and a switch interposed in said cableintermediate the ends thereof for ready accessibility to that hand ofthe' user adjacent said one wrist when the strap is looped over thelatter, thereby leaving the other hand and wrist free.

2. In a combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said switch requiresmanual resetting to an open or closed position.

3. In a combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said switch includesa rotatable disc control member whereby the user may readily operate theswitch with his thumb and forefinger.

4. In a combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein is provided meansadjustably securing opposed ends of the strap to the hanger elementswhereby the user may vary the effective length of said first loop.

5. In a combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein said means includesa U-shaped bracket for each end of the strap, secured to said casing andreceiving 2. respective end of the strap and an S-shaped clip on eachend of the strap above a corresponding bracket for releasablymaintaining the outer extremities of the strap in predetermined,overlapped relationship relative to the central portion of the strap.

6. In an electric lantern including an electric battery having a pair ofelectrical terminations, an electric lamp having a pair of electricalterminations, structure mounting said lamp on said battery, andelectrically conductive means for electrically coupling one terminationof said battery with one termination of said lamp, the improvement ofwhich comprises a first flexible, looped cable including an electricalconductor electrically coupledwith the other termination of said lamp,said cable extending from the lamp rearwardly and upwardly toan'intermediate bight portion thereof and thence rearwardly anddownwardly to a point of electrical coupling of said conductor with theother termination of said battery; an electric switch interposed in saidbight portion ofsaid cable and electrically coupled in series with saidconductor; and an elongated, flexible, bail member having a bight partdisposed rearwardly of and extending transversely relative to said bightportion of the cable, and a pair of downwardly extending side leg partsphysically coupled with said battery, said bail member being adapted toreceive the wrist of a user for suspending said battery and lamp on thelatter from the users wrist in orientation permitting convenientaccessibility of the users cor responding hand to said switch forcontrolling thelatter.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 14,608Gould Apr. 8, 1856 1,167,878 Benedict Jan. 11, 1916 1,617,793 Compton eta1 Feb; 15, 1927 FOREIGN PATENTS 110,611 Great Britain Oct. 29, 1917

